Fishing device

Abstract

A fishing device useful for casting and trolling includes an elongated buoyant plug type artificial fishing lure mounted to a bait harness adapted to hold a fish bait, filet or strip of fish bait. The harness is mounted longitudinally to the underside of the lure and includes opposed jaw members pivotally connected at one end under spring tension and provided with opposed spaced prongs at the opposite end. The jaws are normally closed with the prongs in overlapping position. An elongated flexible bar disposed in longitudinal alignment to the underside of the lure has a free end extending intermediate the closed prongs and is pivotally secured at the opposite end intermediate the jaws. When the jaws are opened, the rod is swingable on its pivot point to be perpendicular to the lure to facilitate its being impaled or skewered lengthwise through the fish bait from the head to protrude from the tail thereof. The rod with skewered fish bait is returned to longitudinal alignment with the lure and the jaws are returned to closed position where the prongs penetrate the fish bait to hold it securely against the underside of the lure. The closed prongs embrace the bar so that the bar and fish bait are maintained against lateral displacement relative to longitudinal alignment with the lure.

I claim: 
     
       1. A fishing device, comprising: a plug type artificial fishing lure,   a fish bait harness secured to said lure and adapted to securely hold a fish bait in juxtaposition therewith,   said harness including spring-loaded openable and closable jaws having bait penetrating overlapping prongs for engaging a fish bait,   an elongated bar upon which a fish bait is impaled or skewered carried by said harness,   the prongs on said jaws when in closed position embracing said bar to hold said bar with fish bait against lateral movement relative to said lure, and   a fish hook depending from said harness.   
     
     
       2. A fishing device as defined in claim 1 including said lure being of a configuration capable of use independently as a bait. 
     
     
       3. A fishing device as defined in claim 1 including said bar being pivotally secured at one end to said harness whereby with said jaws open said bar is swingable to a position perpendicular to said lure to facilitate impaling a fish bait. 
     
     
       4. A fishing device as defined in claim 1 including said lure being provided with a bottom surface and said harness adapted to secure a fish bait in juxtaposition to said bottom surface. 
     
     
       5. A fishing device as defined in claim 4 wherein said bottom surface is flat. 
     
     
       6. A fishing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said lure is buoyant to hold a fish bait in position to effect a natural side to side action during trolling. 
     
     
       7. A fishing device, comprising: an elongated plug type artificial fishing lure defining a body with a bottom surface,   a fixed upper jaw secured to said bottom surface in longitudinal alignment with said lure,   a movable lower jaw complementary to said upper jaw and with corresponding opposed ends,   means pivotally connecting said jaws under spring tension at one opposed ends to normally hold the opposite opposed ends in closed position,   means on said lower jaw to selectively move it to open position,   means on said opposite opposed ends for securely holding a fish bait,   a fish hook secured to and depending from said lure,   an elongated bar having a free end with its opposite end pivotally mounted to said harness intermediate said jaws and adapted to be disposed in longitudinal alignment with said lure,   in open position of said jaws said bar being movable on its pivot connection to a position perpendicular to said lure for the purpose of being skewered lengthwise through a fish bait from the head thereof so its free end protrudes from the tail of the bait, and   with said bar and fish bait returned to longitudinal alignment with said lure the closing of said jaws secures said fish bait in juxtaposition to said lure.   
     
     
       8. A fishing device as defined in claim 7 wherein said bottom surface is flat. 
     
     
       9. A fishing device as defined in claim 7 wherein said lure is buoyant to hold a fish bait in position to effect a natural side to side action during trolling. 
     
     
       10. A fishing device, comprising: an elongated plug type artificial fishing lure defining a body with a bottom surface,   a fixed upper jaw secured to said bottom surface in longitudinal alignment with said lure,   a movable lower jaw complementary to said upper jaw and with corresponding opposed ends,   means pivotally connecting said jaws under spring tension at one opposed ends to normally hold the opposite opposed ends in closed position,   means on said lower jaw to selectively move it to open position,   spaced prongs on said opposite opposed ends for securely holding a fish bait,   a fish hook secured to and depending from said lure,   a pin secured to and depending from said bottom surface through said jaws at said one opposed ends,   an eye on the free end of said pin to receive a fish hook,   an elongated bar having a free end provided with a hole and the opposite end pivotally journalled on said pin intermediate said jaws,   said bar adapted in the closed position of said jaws to be disposed in longitudinal alignment with said lure so said free end extends intermediate said prongs,   in the open position of said jaws said bar being movable on its pivot connection to said pin to a position perpendicular to said lure for the purpose of being skewered lengthwise through a fish bait from the head thereof so its free end protrudes from the tail of the bait,   with said bar and fish bait returned to longitudinal alignment with said lure the closing of said jaws secures said fish bait in juxtaposition to said lure with said prongs embracing said elongated bar to hold the same with bait against lateral movement relative to said lure, and   a fish hook removably secured through the hole in the free end of said elongated bar.   
     
     
       11. A fishing device as defined in claim 10 wherein said bottom surface is flat. 
     
     
       12. A fishing device as defined in claim 10 wherein said lure is buoyant to hold a fish bait in position to effect a natural side to side action during trolling.